Nearly 720,000 Koreans expected to travel abroad during Lunar New Year break

Nearly 720,000 people are expected to travel overseas through Incheon International Airport during Korea’s six-day Lunar New Year holiday, with Japan emerging as the most popular destination amid a relatively short break, airport officials said Friday. According to Incheon International Airport Corp., a total of 718,880 passengers, including transfer travelers, are projected to depart the country between Feb. 13 and 18. The Lunar New Year holiday, one of Korea’s most significant travel periods, runs for six days this year. Japan accounted for the largest share of outbound travelers, with an estimated 185,432 passengers expected to visit the neighboring country. China followed with 123,486 travelers. Southeast Asian destinations collectively attracted about 204,084 travelers, while European countries accounted for 35,740 passengers. Passenger traffic is expected to peak on the second day of the holiday, Saturday, when about 130,675 travelers are forecast to depart. The lightest traffic is projected for the final day of the holiday on Feb. 18, with 104,721 passengers expected to leave